Does anyone know anything about 3D Modeling, or anything about programs that will allow you to work with 3D models?

Hi there. I have been 3d modeling for about 6 months now, Its very expensive to buy the software and it takes a long time to learn. I am using the program 3ds max 5, which is one of the top modeling programs out there alongside others like Maya, Light Wave, XSI...etc. These are the programs that are used to do all the stuff in movies and in games, e.g 3ds max was used in the tomb radier games and in The Core and final destination. Maya was used in X-men and in Grand turismo 3. I think XSI was used in some of the parts in The Matrix although don't quote me on that. As far as I know if your not wanting to commit to paying like way over 2 grand for these programs there are alternatives. Maya has a learning edition(free) which is mostly the same as the real one except the Maya logo is pasted right over the viewports and all over any renders you produce and you are not aloud to do any productive work. There is also a free version of XSI and it is actually quite good no big banners over the viewports. Don't know about Lightwave. And there is no free version of 3ds Max.

The only other free 3d program I can think of is GMax which is similar to 3ds max but lots of features are cut down but it can produce some okay models i think.

For info on 3ds max and Gmax go to www.discreet.com

For info on Maya go to www.aliaswavefront.com

For info on Lightwave go to www.newtek.com

and for info on XSI go to www.softimage.com

Heres a few things iv done in my 6 months experience of 3d:

www.3d-palace.com

www.3d-palace.com

www.3d-palace.com

www.3d-palace.com
The last one was a game model for unreal tournament.

God thats gota be the biggest forum reply iv ever posted, think i got a bit carried away lol. Anyway hope its helped in some way.

Hello MacLean,

Just looked at some of your 'work'... nice When will you get to the 'animation' bit?

Welcome to GIDForums™..

animation is difficult, and very very time consuming, I haven't actually done much but i want to master modeling first, i'll try and find a little 3 second animation I made to show yas. It aint hollywood but I still got plenty of time to learn. And thanks its nice to be a member of this forum

Great work I like the car I'm still learning alittle about 3d modeling But I'm not much of a artist so I need to learn alittle about that first. But great work keep it up and if you find that animation I would like to seem it.

maclean : good modelling!! just apply some texture it will b more realistic.. + lighting
keep going!

I found a pretty good free one with some great tutorials it is called anim8or found at (of course) http://www.anim8or.com I's a great program to start playing with I used it to create a spinning globe for one of the sights i'm working on.

Hello Socrates,

What a great find!

I am still checking out the website: http://www.anim8or.com/main/index.html . Thank you